Carlo Acutis, a Catholic teenager known as “God’s Influencer,” is set to be canonized in April, making him the first millennial saint. Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was known for his deep faith and commitment to helping others. His canonization will mark a significant moment for the Catholic Church, as he represents a modern role model for young Catholics in the digital age.
Acutis was born in London in 1991 to Italian parents and grew up in Milan. From a young age, he showed a strong devotion to his faith. He attended Mass daily and had a deep fascination with the Eucharist. His interest in technology led him to create a website documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world, aiming to help others strengthen their faith. He also volunteered to help the homeless and the hungry in his community, showing compassion and generosity beyond his years.
Carlo Acutis died on October 12, 2006, after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. He offered his suffering for the Church and the Pope, demonstrating remarkable faith even in his final days. He was buried in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, where his body remains on display. Pilgrims from around the world visit his tomb to pray and seek inspiration from his life.
His journey toward sainthood began in 2020 when the Vatican recognized his first miracle. A six-year-old Brazilian boy, suffering from a rare pancreatic disease, was miraculously healed after touching a relic of Acutis. The boy’s condition had been life-threatening, but after three days of prayer, he began eating and recovering. The Vatican declared this as a miracle, leading to Acutis’s beatification in October 2020.
A second miracle, which secured his canonization, was confirmed by the Vatican in May 2024. Valeria, a young woman from Costa Rica, suffered a severe head injury after a bicycle accident in Florence in 2022. She underwent a complex craniotomy, but her doctors had little hope for her recovery. In desperation, her mother traveled to Assisi and prayed at Acutis’s tomb. Within a week, Valeria began to regain movement and speech. A follow-up scan showed that her brain hemorrhage had disappeared. The Vatican declared this event a miracle, paving the way for Acutis’s recognition as a saint.
Pope Francis and Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, head of the Vatican’s canonization department, approved Acutis’s sainthood after reviewing the evidence of these two miracles. The canonization ceremony is scheduled to take place between April 25 and 27 in Vatican City. However, Pope Francis’s health condition may affect the event.
Acutis’s canonization highlights his influence on modern Catholicism, particularly among young people. His ability to combine faith with modern technology has earned him the nickname “God’s Influencer.” His story shows that religious devotion and modern life can coexist, inspiring young Catholics to engage with their faith in the digital era.
The canonization process follows four steps: the individual is first named a Servant of God, then recognized for living a life of heroic virtue, followed by beatification after confirmation of one miracle. Canonization requires a second confirmed miracle, after which the individual is declared a saint. Acutis’s canonization will make him the first millennial saint, marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church and reaffirming the power of faith in the modern age.
This article is originally published on watson.ch
